Kung Fu Tea appears to be the Loop’s newest star. The bubble tea chain opened a location on Delmar Boulevard Wednesday, Sept. 25, with a grand opening event on Sunday featuring traditional lion dances performed by martial arts school International Shaolin Wushu Center.

Hailed as “the Starbucks of bubble tea” by the Washington Post, the chain has over 200 locations nationwide. Along with classic teas they offer milk tea, slushes, fruit-based punch drinks and “Wow Teas,” which include tapioca bubbles steeped in brown sugar rather than honey. With syrup flavors including wintergreen and taro, there are seemingly limitless combinations of tea types and toppings.

The interior of the new establishment is tastefully decorated with red and black accents to create a sleek modernist aesthetic. Along with the drinks themselves, patrons can purchase bags of tea leaves to prepare in their homes.

Washington University freshman Nisha Mani works at Kung Fu Tea.

“It’s kind of hectic, especially in the beginning because there are so many people coming right now,” Mani said. “The way they’ve set it up is very formulaic; it kind of breaks down the ingredients.”

With multiple other restaurants on the Delmar Loop serving bubble tea, Mani thinks that the specialized nature of the store will attract customers.

“It’s a place that specializes in making bubble tea, so just in terms of variety we have many more flavors and topping options. You can get milk foam and things like that, which I don’t think you can get at Corner 17,” said Mani. “Kung Fu Tea is a chain, so there’s a certain level of consistency you can expect.”

Sophomore Claire Magnuson said that the visual atmosphere of Kung Fu Tea sets it above the other Delmar Loop competitors.

“I really liked the black, white and red aesthetic…especially when compared to St. Louis Bubble Tea, which doesn’t have as great [of] an aesthetic,” Magnuson said. “It helps with Instagram [posts].”

Kung Fu Tea shows remarkable attention to detail with its toppings, adding real sesame seeds and tiny slices of fruit to the teas. The result is a multilayered, complexly textured concoction that goes beyond many other St. Louis establishments.

“I like tea to be not overpoweringly sweet, but to have a lot of flavor,” Magnuson said. Subtlety may not be Kung Fu Tea’s strong suit, but it certainly does make for a memorable and enjoyable experience that is sure to become a Delmar Loop staple.